Barbara Ling, the production designer who won an Academy Award for her work on Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' has died at the age of 73. Ling died on July 9, 2026, in Santa Barbara, California, after a battle with cancer, according to her family.
Ling's Oscar win came in 2020 for Best Production Design, shared with set decorator Nancy Haigh, for recreating 1969 Los Angeles in the film. She was known for her meticulous attention to period detail, transforming modern locations into the iconic streets of Hollywood's golden era.
Born in 1953, Ling began her career in the 1980s and worked on films including 'The Flintstones' (1994) and 'Batman & Robin' (1997). Her collaboration with Tarantino on 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' was widely praised for its immersive authenticity.
Ling is survived by her husband, production designer John Warnke, and their two children. The family has requested privacy during this time.
